Solid Wood vs Engineered Materials -Contributing Blogger Rachael Gray

Today’s homeowner has many choices when it comes to the cabinetry they select for their new or remodeled kitchen.  There is a bevy of styles, price points; from very affordable to high end, different manufacturers and more.  Among these categories, there are also types of materials used to produce and manufacture today’s cabinetry.  Popular opinion still says that engineered woods are “cheap” or “unattractive” while it is said that solid wood is among the best in the industry.  Well, I believe this to be untrue.  While solid wood products are very beautiful and of course, have their place in the kitchen and bath world, engineered products also have their niche in this industry. 

There are many kitchen / bath cabinet manufacturers that offer an engineered panel for the construction of the cabinet box and doors.  In many cases, this means that the panel is very eco friendly and can often mean that it is a 100% post consumer product; meaning only recycled materials have been used in the manufacturing process.  It can also mean very high durability and a long lasting kitchen for many years to come.  Another great quality to the engineered panel is that it can be water repellent which also means no absorption of moisture and therefore no expanding and contracting of the cabinet box or door.  This just adds to the durable factor that will continue to keep your kitchen looking just as new as the day it was installed. 

Wonderful shapes such as round or oval cabinets can be created with the use of engineered wood.   If you’re looking to create a modern or contemporary aesthetic for your kitchen, do consider that using engineered wood can and will give you the look you’re trying to accomplish.

 

While you’re shopping cabinet showrooms, don’t be afraid to ask about what materials are used in the construction of their cabinets.  If you’re concerned about lessening your footprint, ask about the woods that are used; are they from sustainable forests?  Do the cabinets have formaldehyde, PVC or other harmful materials?  If so, you have other options and I suggest to continue your search until you have found the manufacturer that fulfills your aesthetic, functional, and eco needs.

Won't You Come In?

We love beautiful doors. There are beautiful and interesting doors everywhere, just look around!
This one belongs to the Cathedral of St. Patrick in New York City.

Reupholstery 101

In today's world of "I want everything new,"it's rare to find someone searching for a business that specializes in upholstery.

It's unfortunate. But not surprising.

There are different reasons for this. One is that people today aren't as interested in purchasing for a lifetime. People see furniture like food, with a shelf life. Years ago, that wasn't the case. People bought furniture to pass down to their children.
Another is because of quality. Today, you actually have to search out companies that sell high quality goods. Casegoods that aren't made of out particle board or sofas with plastic legs. That's not to say that everyone should look to high end for everything. It's true that places like IKEA, Pottery Barn and Ethan Allen have their time and place.
But there are those out there that have a sofa, chair or ottoman that they just can't get rid of. Maybe it's the scale, style or history behind it that tugs at the heart strings. Whatever the reason, reupholstering is a great option.

I'm not going to lie and say it's a cheap fix. A good upholsterer is going to cost you. To make sure you're getting a fair price, shop around. Get several bids to make sure you're getting a fair price. But be aware that a much lower bid can mean much lower quality.

Talk with your upholsterer about your fabric choices before you purchase it. If possible bring in a sample. A good upholsterer will tell you if a fabric won't wear well and be able to recommend other options. Always wash fabric for slipcovers before dropping it off at the shop. The first time you take them to the dry cleaners or throw them in the wash, they will shrink and won't fit.

Something else to consider are the cushions. What do you want them to be filled with? How do you want it to sit? If you didn't love the sit of the piece before, now is the time to speak up. Maybe you want it firmer, softer, or have a more relaxed look. Ask what your options are. One of, if not the most popular, cushion inserts is a foam center with a down fill wrap around it. That way you get both the stability and softness. For a down fill, I recommend a 60-40 ratio. 60 being down and 40 being feather.

Remember, the world of upholstery is not just about applying a new fabric. They also repair and replace springs, joints, coils, fill, and padding. So make sure you take that special piece to someone you trust!                                                                                                  

What Building Codes?

Ahhh, Venice. The land of unlicensed contractors.

Shine A Light On

Do you read This Old House? Well you should! It is a great publication for people who like do it yourself projects, resource guides, reviews of new products, secrets from the pros, before and after photos and much more!
You might be wondering what makes this magazine different from all the other trade publications out there, and I'll tell you.

The people.

How many magazines have television shows? Go ahead, think about it, I'll wait... and no, Martha doesn't count.
This Old House has been on TV since I was a kid! We know these guys (and gals) know what they're talking about! We SEE them do it on the show. They don't start a project(house) at the beginning of a half hour show and thirty minutes later wrap up the show with a completed project being photographed for a magazine! We see it week by week come to life.
We TRUST Norm, Tom and the team, we BELIEVE if we do it the way they said, it will work.
Why, you wonder, am I bringing this up? Well, when you respect and trust a group of people, you want to help them out if you can. Every issue of This Old House has a Save This Old House on the very last page. Each issue features a different house somewhere in the U.S. that is in need of a new owner. Sometimes the house is free but needs to be moved, or sometimes it's $20,000 or less but needs new wiring, plumbing, and the like. They are usually historic and have beautiful detailing that just need some TLC. These are homes that deserve to be revived and filled with loving families once again. Now, isn't that worth shining a light on?